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PRESS RELEASE
By David Horne
Indiana University
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana- A recent film lecture has sparked interest in the
Burma conflict. The lecture was held on Monday, October 2 at 8 p.m. on
the Indiana University campus. The dynamic speakers, Khin Ohnmar of
Refugees International and Kevin Heppner of Canadian Friends of Burma and
Director of the Karen Human Rights Group, motivated the students,
faculty/staff and community of Indiana University Bloomington. Ms.
Ohnmar first discussed the history of Burma's injustice and then gave her
own testimony. As a Burmese refugee student herself she was able to
provide a visualization of what took place in 1988. Her portion of the
lecture kept the American students attention on what the movement is all
about. Ms. Ohnmar simply said "The peoples of Burma need you." Her face
did not show despair, when many students acknowledged her desire. Her
charge was for the American people at large to put pressure on those
corporations that support SLORC(State Law and Order Restoration Council),
not to involve themselves in business with this brutal dictatorship. She
specifically encouraged the boycott of PepsiCo, Unocal(Union 76), and
Texaco. These American companies refuse to halt business with SLORC.
The next speaker used photo's from his journey in Burma. Mr. Heppner had
been in the minority areas and taken some disturbing pictures. As he
methodically turned each slide and made his comments about each photo,
some students turned their heads or covered their eyes in horror. Most
American students have seen disturbing pictures of war crimes before;
however, most of them were taken back in the 40's in Nazi Germany. Mr.
Heppner's photo's had a devastating effect because of their time. He
pointed out that these atrocities were still taking place today. He
summed up his portion of the lecture by quoting an old Burmese farmer,
the man said "I think democracy is being able to have a cow and not
having to give it to the government." After the lecture had concluded
there was a short question and answer time. The Americans present had
been motivated to action. They wanted to know where to start and how
they could be most effective.
The Indiana University community is blessed to have two Burmese refugee
students studying and leading this movement forward in Bloomington.
Their names are Tun Myint and Moe Zaw Aung. Under their direction there
will now be a protest at the Pepsi plant in Bloomington on October 27.
Amnesty International was also well represented at the lecture and they
were interested in doing more than just a protest. With the leadership
of the Burmese students and the orginazational strength of Amnesty
International the Bloomington Community will be attempting to bring
selective purchasing to the attention of the City Council. Selective
purchasing is how an individual, community, state, or even government can
protest an unjust situation. In this case the city will be asked to stop
local trade with companies that operate with SLORC. With enthusiam such
as this democracy will prevail in Burma.